Airplanes
B.o.B. ft. Hayley Williams of Paramore Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars
I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars
I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now

Yeah, I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this
'Cause after all the partyin' and smashin' and crashin'
And all the glitz and glam and the fashion
And all the pandemonium and all the madness
There comes a time where you fade to the blackness
And when you're starin' at the phone in your lap
And you hopin' but them people never call you back
But that's just how the story unfolds
You get another hand soon after you fold
And when your plans unravel in the sand
What would you wish for, if you had one chance?
So airplane, airplane sorry I'm late
I'm on my way so don't close that gate
If I don't make that, then I'll switch my flight
And I'll be right back at it by the end of the night

Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars
I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars
I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now

Yeah, yeah, somebody take me back to the days
Before this was a job, before I got paid
Before it ever mattered what I had in my bank
Yeah, back when I was tryna get a tip at Subway
And back then I was rappin' for the hell of it
But nowadays we rappin' to stay relevant
I'm guessin' that if we can make some wishes out of airplanes
Then maybe, oh maybe, I'll go back to the days
Before the politics that we call the rap game
And back when ain't nobody listened to my mixtape
And back before when I tried to cover up my slang
But this is for Decatur, what's up Bobby Ray?
So can I get a wish to end the politics?
And get back to the music that started this shit
So here I stand and then again I say
I'm hoping we can make some wishes out of airplanes

Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars
I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now
Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars
I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now

I could really use a wish right now
I, I, I could really use a wish right now
Like, like, like shootin' stars




I, I, I could, I could really use a wish right now
A wish, a wish right now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in "Airplanes" by B.o.B. featuring Hayley Williams explore the idea of wanting to escape reality and return to a simpler time. The opening lines of the chorus express the desire to imagine airplanes as shooting stars, which represent a wish that could be granted. The repetition of "wish right now" emphasizes the urgency and longing for something to change. The first verse delves deeper into this desire for escape, with the artist stating that he would do anything to go back to a simpler time before the chaos and pressure of fame. The lyrics suggest that the glitz, glamor, and partying that came with success weren't enough to keep the artist fulfilled, and that there comes a point where everything seems to fade into darkness.


The second verse touches on the topic of the music industry and how the artist feels that it has become focused more on politics and the pursuit of fame, rather than the love of creating music. B.o.B. expresses a desire to return to the time when he was just starting out and making music for the simple joy of it, rather than worrying about whether or not it would be successful. Through the repetition of the chorus, the message is clear: the artist is hoping to be granted a wish to turn back the clock and regain something that was lost.


Overall, "Airplanes" is a lament of the effects of fame and the pressures it brings. The song expresses nostalgia for an earlier time and a sense of longing for something that may no longer be attainable.


Line by Line Meaning

Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shootin' stars
The singer is asking if they can imagine airplanes flying through the night sky like shooting stars.


I could really use a wish right now, wish right now, wish right now
The singer is expressing that they are in need of something to hope for or a desire to come true.


Yeah, I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
The singer is listing different forms of wishes they could use to help them through a challenging time.


To go back to a place much simpler than this
The artist wants to return to a time when their life was less complicated.


'Cause after all the partyin' and smashin' and crashin'
The artist is referencing the chaotic lifestyle they lead in the music industry.


And all the glitz and glam and the fashion
The singer is referring to the shallow and materialistic aspects of the music industry.


And all the pandemonium and all the madness
The singer is referring to the hectic and disorderly nature of the music industry.


There comes a time where you fade to the blackness
The artist is acknowledging that eventually, their fame and success will fade away.


And when you're starin' at the phone in your lap
The artist is describing the feeling of waiting for important calls or messages that never come.


And you hopin' but them people never call you back
The artist is expressing the disappointment of not hearing from people they were waiting for.


But that's just how the story unfolds
The singer is acknowledging that disappointments and failures are a part of life.


You get another hand soon after you fold
The artist is saying that even when you lose in life, there are still opportunities to start again.


And when your plans unravel in the sand
The singer is describing the feeling of having their plans fall apart.


What would you wish for, if you had one chance?
The singer is asking the listener to consider what they would wish for if they had one opportunity to make it come true.


So airplane, airplane sorry I'm late
The singer is addressing their airplane, apologizing for being late.


I'm on my way so don't close that gate
The artist is asking the airplane not to leave without them.


If I don't make that, then I'll switch my flight
The artist is suggesting that they are willing to switch to a different flight if they miss their original one.


And I'll be right back at it by the end of the night
The singer is expressing their determination to get to their destination that same night.


Yeah, yeah, somebody take me back to the days
The singer wants to go back to simpler times.


Before this was a job, before I got paid
The artist misses when music was simply a hobby for them and not their source of income.


Before it ever mattered what I had in my bank
The artist wants to go back to when they didn't have to worry about their financial status.


Yeah, back when I was tryna get a tip at Subway
The artist is referring to a time when they worked at Subway and needed to earn tips to get by.


And back then I was rappin' for the hell of it
The singer used to make music just for fun.


But nowadays we rappin' to stay relevant
The artist is saying that the music industry has become more about staying relevant than making music for the love of it.


I'm guessin' that if we can make some wishes out of airplanes
The singer is hoping that making a wish on an airplane could bring them back to simpler times.


Then maybe, oh maybe, I'll go back to the days
The singer is expressing their desire to go back to a time when things were easier.


Before the politics that we call the rap game
The singer is referring to the complicated and competitive nature of the music industry.


And back when ain't nobody listened to my mixtape
The artist wants to go back to when they were making music for themselves and not thinking about being heard by others.


And back before when I tried to cover up my slang
The artist used to censor their own language in their music.


But this is for Decatur, what's up Bobby Ray?
The singer is sending a shoutout to their hometown, Decatur, and referencing their stage name, Bobby Ray.


So can I get a wish to end the politics?
The singer wants a wish to help them escape the competitive and complicated nature of the music industry.


And get back to the music that started this shit
The artist wants to make music for the love of it, instead of just to stay relevant.


So here I stand and then again I say
The artist is standing up for their beliefs about the music industry.


I'm hoping we can make some wishes out of airplanes
The artist is again expressing their hope that making wishes on airplanes could bring them back to simpler times.


I could really use a wish right now
The singer is still expressing their desire for something to hope for.


I, I, I could really use a wish right now
The artist is repeating their desire for a wish to come true.


Like, like, like shootin' stars
The singer believes that making wishes on airplanes is similar to wishing on shooting stars.


I, I, I could, I could really use a wish right now
The singer is repeating their need for a wish.


A wish, a wish right now
The singer is expressing that all they want is a wish to hope for.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Justin Franks, Jeremy Dussolliet, Timothy Sommers, Christine Dominguez, Bobby Ray Simmons, Alexander Junior Grant

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@superpiggaming89

I grew (grow) up in a house where none of my family likes rap. And if I'm going to be completely honest, there are only few rap songs that are actually viable (not tryna cause an argument here). There was one song to change that. My family always say
"you've been through way too much for your age"
But when i look at other people, anyone could have it worse. I'm not trying to throw a pity party here, but i hope anybody who reads this knows:
I have lost one of my younger brothers to a present in birth sickness.
One of my other brothers is in a bad situation with my family and I'll just leave it at that.
When my first brother got sick, i was put into foster care and later with my grandparents.
after that my parents split.
I haven't been in a "relationship" since the 2nd grade.
I am 16 without a cell phone.
Anyone and everyone has it worse.
don't complain.
don't argue .
don't neglect.
Good luck out there.
~Sam



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Brazil

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@lugge9400

The dumbest wish as kid was to be a grown up

@Lucifer-lz5cu

Damn we all share the same brain cells

@masters3104

Not for people with awful parents.

@squeecy9965

Ebs2 Games I think it’s because we don’t have a sense of nostalgia, or memories as a kid. Wish I could go back and enjoy it while it lasted

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